In the cold light of day...

It's really hard reading all of the race reports and seeing how happy everyone is after the GNW at the weekend. What hurts is not being part of that club and not finishing. But it's OK, I'm OK with the decision I made as I have to keep the long term goals in mind. I don't know what kind of a state I would have been in had I done the lot, but that's done with now and I can only focus on what's ahead, and that is to try for a top 150 place at the MDS. This is my goal and I need to focus on it - rather than trying to do too much all at once. Once that is done (hopefully!), I have some serious goals set aside for 2009, namely three very big ones. I'm a bit superstitious, so I don't like to broadcast what they are, but they involve three of the biggest ultras in Australia, and I want to do them. There is a lifetime of opportunity ahead for me and running, and I'm so glad that I found this wonderful sport early. I look at some of the veteran generation and the guys doing this and you look at them in awe and what they do. So much respect for them. At the weekend, I learnt about respect for this and certainly the GNW race, and I thank my lucky stars that hopefully, I'll have many many more years to run this wonderful race.

Anyway's enough of GNW - that book is now closed for this year, and I now have three and a half more months of some serious high mileage training to do. So, back on the wagon I got last night with a gentle 4 miler. At some stages I was running pretty quickly, given that I'd run about 113kms on Saturday - I think it was retribution for my mind and letting myself slip. I'll be out again tonight, and my focus is now unrelenting for the MDS - I'm going to smash it and smash my body for this one, really putting it on the line.

It's also exciting to see what races I'll do in 2009 after the MDS. The Canberra marathon is a must, not only because it will be my first year anniversary of running, but because one of the guys who I see week in week out and is quite frankly an amazing person to look up to, will be running his 100th marathon - simply awesome and inspiring in my book. Although he thinks what he does is everyday, I know a lot of people look up to him as a role model and as an inspiration. Certainly, I've been following his blog and he's inspired me to push myself even further beyond my limits than I probably would have done, I need that kick up the arse sometimes. He's also given up his free time to talk to me and run me through his thoughts, and in some respects I let him and myself down at GNW, but that's done (as I said!)...

So, full steam ahead now for the MDS and some serious training. Next up I'm going to be pacer/crew for some people up at the C2K, as that will be a good chance to get some big distances under my belt also!

Casual 10km

So after deciding during the day not to run last night and ease myself back into the pattern follwoing my illness, I went out and ran. But it was good. A very casual 10kms in 48 minutes which I was fairly happy with. I didn't push it hard at all, but with the cold and chestyness, I was breathing a little heavy towards the end, but by no means uncomfortable. I must say though I was feeling slightly weary, but that's only because of the illness I'm sure.

Rest night tonight me thinks, or maybe a short 4 miler, then going to do a longer run on Friday night, around 13-15 miles nice and easy before next weekend's trail marathon. This will be my first proper trail marathon, so again not sure what to expect from it. I thought Hunter Valley would be slow as it was mainly off-road, but look what happened there! Anyway, I'll keep any expectations at bay and just run the race. I found that I was so relaxed ahead of Hunter Valley that I really didn't worry about times and splits. As a result I did go out a little too hard and paid slightly on the way back, but I think that had more to do with the lack of longer distance runs done in the 3 months between Canberra and Hunter Valley. Anyway's City to Surf this weekend - I'll use this as a speed session. First 5 kms fairly relaxed, and then 8kms of afterburners and lungbusting throwing-up-ness me thinks. I hate this shorter ones... I'm so not a sprinter :)

How many marathons?

So following my run at the weekend in the Hunter Valley Marathon it's really got me thinking about how many marathons should I run in preparation for my little jaunt around the desert next year. Initially I was going to do one marathon (Canberra) as a test of my fitness and to put a stake in the ground.

However having done the Hunter Valley marathon, I've firmly caught the bug. It was also interesting to read a post by Ian Sharman on UK MDS website about the fact that he ran pretty much a marathon every other weekend in the build up to the event. He came 13th overall, a great achievement.

It's also got me thinking because of the way I feel after a marathon. After Canberra I could barely walk, however after this weekend. movement is a lot better. Obviously it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that the more marathons you do, the better you are at recovering from them. I've recently started posting on the Cool Running Australian website, and there is a healthy set of runners on there who appear to be running marathons on a very regular basis i.e. 1-2 a month. I'm sat here now thinking it would be great to compete in the Cities marathon this weekend, but instead I'm doing the Bay Run 7km.

I suppose I'm answering my own question, but essentially it boils down to how much you want to train and what you want to achieve. I want to do the best I can possibly do. I initially said, just to finish and that still has to be the end goal, but now I'm thinking top 200. However I know that if I do that I'll want top 150. Who knows. Personally I think my training is now going to evolve much more to incorporate as many marathon race events as possible. The only bugger is that in the build up to the MDS in March, we're slap bang in the middle of summer, so events are few and far between. Still I guess I'll just have to get out there on my own and run in the blistering heat - good preparation I say!

One thing is for sure - I have the marathon bug now. There's a little bit between 35-40kms that hurts like hell, but I need to do it more often so I can get used to it more often! If that makes any sense! It does raise some interesting points though about how to train for an event like this. There is no template as the event is quite unique, rather like a game of rugby, it's for all shapes and sizes and is what attracts many people to it. It's interesting to see how my training has developed as a result. I said at the start if this, my goal was to reach 3hr 45min marathon status and then maintain that through to the race. I'm a 3hr 30min runner now, and I want more. I told the missus last night that I want to aim for a sub 3hr marathon once this is done? 10 months ago I'd have told myself I was an idiot. Now with the right application and training I might be able to do it - who knows?

Jet lag can be a good thing

Oh yes it can... I was in bed by 10pm last night having just landed that day back in Sydney, and was wide awake at 5am. Beauty I thought, I'll go for a run. This was the first 'proper' run for a good 10 day or so given the calf trouble. The few 'tester' runs I'd done meant that the calf was feeling good, so I decided to push this one a little. I set out pretty steady as I didnt want a repeat of the calf pull, but all in I did a good 6 miles in just over 45 mins. I was so paranoid about losing fitness in the last few weeks, as I seem to lose it quite quickly, but all felt good today on the run. Plus it's so beautiful where I live, watching the sun come up as you run around the water's edge and then with the stunning views of Sydney Harbour Bridge to boot as well. Really makes you realise why you move over here, having been back in the UK for the last 2 weeks visiting family and friends. Anyway, quite how the marathon will go on Sunday I dont know - not sure if I have the longer distance stamina at the moment to complete in a good time i.e. beater than Canberra, but we'll see. Anything around 3hr 45min would be OK I guess... but OK is never good enough. I want to beat 3hr 30 min!

Short but sweet

So this week is my lighter week. I've decided to a lot stricter on enforcing this than I have been in previous months (mainly because I was training for the Canberra marathon), and make sure that my body has a lighter load one week a month. It be fair it probably neds to given that I ran myself into the ground (quite literally) over the weekend effectively doing 20 miles a day average over Saturday and Sunday. Looking back am really pleased with that as this whole 'bouncebackability' thing is really key to the MDS. However my legs are pretty stiff this week, and even though it's Wednesday, my legs are still a little sore. However despite really not wanting to go out last night I dragged myself out and did a very short shuffle of 3.5 miles just to get the legs moving again, and on the basis of this morning, I think it worked out quite well.

I'm also really not liking the whole running in the dark thing at the moment either. In the UK I never had an issue with this, but I think I've been spoilt so much out here in Sydney. So, I'm thinking to try and switch to monring runs, as it's so much nicer. However I'm not the greatest at getting my lazy ass out of bed each morning!

I've also decided to make sure I do a really long run once a month, and by this, I'm talking 26+miles - so will probably be taking myself off the the Blue Mountains quite a bit and spend a whole day running. It's going to be nine months of hell! I also can't believe that I'm 9 months in - or exactly half-way. I think the good news is that I'm right where I want to be, probably a bit further if I'm honest when I first started this whole adventure. I also think that looking at other people's trainin and seeing how well they are doing really spurs you on as well. It's also quite a challenge tryiong to keep things in perspective when you go off and do races. I did schedule myself to run the Hunter Valley half marathon in a few months. But the more i think about it the more I think, what use is running a half marathon to me in the desert? Not much if I'm honest - so I've upgraded to the full marathon. However now I'm thinking, how much do I 'race' this so to speak? I said that I wouldn't be running anymore road marathons because they screw you up! However I want to do the miles, and part of me says, just take it steady and use it as an endurance run. The other half of me really really wants to break the 3hr 30min mark - but in doing that I know I'll bugger myself up for a few weeks. The reality is that the Hunter Valley marathon is not the end goal - it's part of the journey, so really I should take it fairly easy and not race it - but I'm just too damn competitive, I knwo I am!

I want to go for a long run

Somewhat bizarrely I thought I'd post before I go for my run tonight, well it's only a 25 min easy run. However I really don't know what to do with myself at the moment. This taper malarky is quite frustrating as I really want to go out for a long run, you know a nice 1hr 30mins type thing, but because of the marathon I have to be strict and limit myself to 3 very light training runs this week before Sunday. I know the reality is that on Sunday at mile 22 of the marathon I'll regret saying this as my body will be hurting like hell, but 25 mins, is that all?

Anyways... it seems as though my running is having an affect on those around me. A girl from work, Lyndsay, she's hilarious and a right old laugh is doing the Sydney half marathon with me. I've told her that I'll run it at her pace and get her round in under 2 hours. For me a doddle, but I'll challenge myself by wearing 8kgs in the backpack as part of it I think :) It will also be good as I can practice my endurance pace for the race, rather than using it as a bit of a sprint to see how quick I can do half a marathon in. Plus the Sydney half is only a month after the Canberra marathon so no need to sprint like a dickhead around the course. I've got another hald scheduled for July - The Hunter Valley half marathon which is set in the wine region, beautiful. So I can make a weekend of it and get sloshed whilst over there.

One final thing, I've signed up for the Bondi Beach 10km barefoot race. A 10km race over soft sand... perfect training me thinks! Anyway, off for my poxy little run in a minute. Adios

Salute the MDS 2008'ers

So I have been gripped with the reports and the blog postings on www.themds.co.uk

Craig from Switzerland is a hilarious guy with a sense of humour unknown to man before, but its all good fun! My own training saw my last longish run of note ahead of Canberra next week. A mere 9.5 miles gently meandering around in the beautiful Sydney sunshine. A casual 1hr 20 mins, but the good news is no aches, no pains, no calf trouble, just nice and easy. All a good sign for next week, and I can't wait for the marathon to come along now.

So a big hands up to the 2008 runners, they're pretty much home and dry now, with the short 11 mile fun run left to do tomorrow. A note also for Keith Sullivan who was forced to retire. We all hope he's OK, and that he'll be back, stronger than ever, and maybe run another year to complete.

Slow down...

So a very gentle 4 miler run home from work last night. In fact it was so slow, I was actually starting to get a little cold (tempurature is dropping over here in sunny Sydney - still 20 degrees though). Tried out my Asics racers last night, they're very lightweight, but just a little too narrow. I've worn them quite a few times when training, but I dont think they're going to be right for the marathon for me. It's not as if I'm a sub 3 hour man or anything, so think I will stick with the Kayano's for race day. Also, as they have very little in the way of support under the mid to front sole, my shins actually started to hurt again. Always happens when I go slower, must mean that I need to go quicker :)


So a 10 miler planned for Saturday, but might cut this down to 8.5, as I have a nice little route about that length, and am very conscious of over doing it. Again, I'll be going very slowly as I'm on the wind down. Then got 3 more gentle light runs planned before next Sunday, then it's the big one! Jesus that's come around quick!